For the third consecutive year, Mindful Memorial Day will be observed with the hanging of yellow ribbons and fallen warrior cards, one for each service member killed in action since Sept. 11, 2001.
The ribbons and their attached cards will be suspended from the rafters of The Women in Military Service for America Memorial at the gates of Arlington National Cemetery, according to Ben King, one of the promoters of the event. The fallen warrior cards are initially blank but have a space where an adhesive tag with a service member’s name and other information can be applied. Visitors may request a specific service member or accept a random choice.
In 2014, 6,805 yellow ribbons were hung at the Women's Memorial. By 2015, the number had risen to 6,821. For this year, the number has climbed to 6,852.
Visitors are guided by a volunteer through a mindful moment of gratitude. The ribbon is then turned into a necklace that the visitor may take home as a reminder and memento. Visitors are also encouraged to memorialize “their” fallen warrior on the Mindful Memorial Day Facebook page.
The Women’s Memorial will be open Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
